Gravity controlled brush device with lock



April 12, 1960 B. SKOLNIKOFF GRAVITY CONTROLLED BRUSH DEVICE WITH LOCK Filed Jan. 11, 1957 FIG. 3.

INVENTOR BENJAMIN 3X04 N IA 0; F

FIG. 6.

ATTORNEYS United States PatentC F 2,932,046 GRAVITY CONTROLIgglgRUSH DEVICE WITH Benjamin Skolnikoir, Mount Vernon, NY.

Application January 11, 1957, Serial No. 633,755

1 Claim. (Cl. 15-139) 7 This invention relates to improvements in brush devices for dispensing and applying liquid.

The particular type of device to which my improvement is directed comprises an elongated hollow casing having a tip with a bore. The casing is adapted to be filled with paint or lacquer, or other suitable liquid. A brush is mounted upon a rod which extends axially in said casing and which is axially slidable. When the device is held erect and in inverted position with the tip uppermost, the brush is in a retracted position within the tip. When the brush is held in a generally erect and upright position, the rod moves downwardly by the action of gravity, and the brush moves to an extended position in which it extends below the tip. Also, as the result of placing the device in erect and upright position, paint can flow from the casing through the bore of the tip, to the brush.

An important object of my invention is to provide an improved liquid applying device of the above-described type, having releasable means for preventing retraction of the brush when the device is moved out of a generally erect position.

Another object of my invention is to provide a liquid applying device of the above-described type which may be used for applying liquid to surfaces in addition to and other than surfaces which are in a generally horizontal position.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved device of this type which is simple and economical to make, and which is substantially foolproof in operation.

In accordance with one preferred embodiment of my invention, the bore of the tip through which the rod moves is downwardly tapered. I provide a pin which extends through a diametrical through bore in the rod. The ends of the pin protrude beyond the periphery of the rod and are rounded. In the retracted and inverted position of the brush, the ends of the pin are spaced inwardly from the periphery of the bore of the tip. When the device is moved to erect and vertical position,

.so that the rod moves downwardly, the ends of the pin engage frictionally against the tapered peripheral wall of the bore of the tip.

As the result of my improved construction, when the device is moved out of generally vertical position, as for example ifit is used to paint a vertical wall, in which position the action of gravity is insuflicient by itself to overcome the force on the brush resulting from painting the wall, the wedging of the ends of the pin against the bore wall holds the brush in its extended position. As a result, it is possible with my improved device to paint a surface regardless of whether or not that surface is in generally horizontal position.

When it is desired to retract the brush, it is sufficient to return the device to generally inverted position and tap it against a surface so as to jar the pin loose from frictional engagement against the bore of the tip.

It will be apparent that my improved device is rugged,

substantially fool-proof in operation, easy to use, eco- Ice r 2,932,046

Patented Apr.- 12, 1960 2 nomical to manufacture, and superior to prior devices of this type.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following description, in conjunction with the annexed drawing, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed.

In the drawings,

Figs. 1-4 show a first embodiment of the invention. Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the improved device, showing it in inverted position and with the cap mounted thereon.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the device, in a position corresponding to that of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the device showing the closure cap removed and showing the device in erect position with the brush in operating position.

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 shows a modification. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the device, showing it with the closure cap removed and showing the device in'erect position with the brush in operating position.

Figs. 6-7 show another modification. Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the inverted device.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section of the device, showing it with the closure cap removed and showing the device in erect position with the brush in operating position.

First embodiment .(Figs. 1-4) The drawings of this embodiment are substantially to scale of a working model of the invention, and reference is made to the drawing to complete the disclosure.

For convenience, the position of the device in Figs. 1 and 2 is defined as its inverted position, and the position of the device in Fig. 3 is defined as its erect position. Also for convenience, the device will be described with the location of the parts designated as they appear when the device is inverted.

The device in accordance with this embodiment comprises a hollow cylindrical casing 10 which is closed at its lower end. An operating head 11 has a cylindrical base portion 11a which is adapted to be frictionally interfitted within the bore of casing 10 at its upper end. Said operating head 11 has a central tapered tip 11b of reduced diameter which extends upwardly from base 11a. Said base 11a has a horizontal annular shoulder 12 at its junction with tip 11b, and said shoulder 12 is optionally and preferably at the same level as the upper .edge of casing 10. Said tip 1111 has an external screw thread 13 adjacent shoulder 12.

The internal space of casing 10, below base 11a, serves as a reservoir and is designated by the reference n umeral 9.

Said operating head 11 has a through-and-through axial bore 14. This bore 14 has a central portion 14a which extends into both the base portion 11a and the tip portion 11b of operating head 11. At its tip end, bore portion 14a communicates with a further bore portion of reduced diameter which extends to the extreme upper end of the tip. At its base end, bore portion 14a communicates with a further bore portion 14b of increased diameter which extends to the extreme lower end of said base 11a. Bore 14b and bore 140 are optionally substantially cylindrical. Bore 14a is somewhat tapered at 14a, at its tip end.

A brush rod 16 is positioned freely movably within bore. 14b and bore 14aand also extends into the reservoir chamber 9 of casing 10. This rod 16 has a portion 16a of increased diameter, which is wholly positioned within bore 14a. Snap ring 17 is force-fitted within the bore 14b at its junction with bore 14a. Optionally, ring 17 is of slightly greater diameter than bore 14b and bore 14b is provided with a suitable peripheralgroove 18 into which ring 17 is snapped. The opening 17a of 1 ring 17 is of less diameter than rod portion 16a and of greater diameter than the main portion of rod 16. Accordingly, ring 17 serves as a stop to limit movement of rod 16 away from the free end of tip 14.

Brush 19 is positioned within bore 14 and is secured at one end in ferrule 20. Ferrule 20 is mounted within end recess 15a of rod portion 16a.

The inner reservoir 9 of casing 10 (below tip 11) is adapted to be filled with liquid 8 by any suitable means. This liquid 8, for example, may be paint or lacquer.

An important feature of my invention resides in the provision of a pin 21 which is mounted within rod 16a. Said rod 16a has a through-and-through diametrically extending bore 22. Pin 21 extends through bore 22 and protrudes radially outwardly at each end of said bore 22. The protruding tips 23 of pin 21 are tapered and rounded, so as to be approximately part hemi-spherical in shape. Optionally, pin 21 is slidable within bore 22.

In the assembly of the device, pin 21 is placed within bore 22 and rod portion 16a is positioned within bore 1411 prior to snapping ring 17 into place.

Brush 19 is axially movable between two extreme positions, the retracted position shown in Fig. 2 and the extended position shown in Fig. 3. In the retracted position of Fig. 2, rod portion 16a abuts ring 17, and brush 19 is located within bore 14a. Brush 19 also extends partly into bore 140, but terminates short of the extreme free end of tip 11b. In this retracted position, the extreme tips of ,pin 21 are positioned radially inwardly of the periphery of bore 14a.

In the retracted position of brush 19, the free end of bore 140 is adapted to be closed by means of a hollow cap 24. This cap 24 is generally cylindrical in shape and has an end wall 25. The other end of cap 24 is open and is internally screw threaded at 26. Cap end wall 25 has a circular recess communicating with the interior space of cap 24, and a sealing gasket 27 of corresponding circular shape is positioned within said recess. Said gasket disc 27 is of slightly greater diameter than the free end of tip 11b, and optionally is flush with the end face of the inner space of cap '24. Cap 24 is adapted to be screwed upon tip 11b by the usual As a result, even a ceiling may be painted with the device, without fear of the brush retracting.

On the other hand, when it is desired to retract the brush, it is merely necessary to move the device to inverted position and tap it against a surface, in order to jar pin 21 loose from its wedged position. Rod 16 then drops by gravity to its retracted position.

It will be apparent without extended description that when the device is in its erect position, paint can flow from reservoir 9, through opening 17a, and through bore 14, to brush 19. Of course, if the brush is moved out of generally erect position, the flow of paint may be cut off. Hence, if a ceiling or vertical surface is being painted, it may be necessary occasionally to move the device engagement of the threads 13 and 26, until the lip of cap 24 abuts shoulder 12. In this position, gasket 27 is yieldingly compressed against the lip of tip 11b. As a result, external air is excluded from brush 19 from the interior space of the device.

In order to extend brush 19, upon removal of cap 24, it is merely necessary to place casing 10 in a generally upright position, as shown in Fig. 3. Rod 16 then drops by gravity, until the extreme ends of tips 23 of pin 21 engage frictionally against the tapered portion 14b of bore 14a. In this position, the ferrule 20 extends partly into bore 140, and brush 19 is located within bore 140 and also extends beyond the free end of tip 11b. In this position, rod portion 16a is slightly spaced from the shoulder at the junction between bores 14 and 140.

If some paint has dried in the bore, impeding the downward movement of pin 21, it may be necesary to shake the device slightly to free the pin and facilitate the downward movement of rod 16.

The frictional engagement of pin tips 23 with the wall of bore portion 14b is facilitated if the operating head 11 is made of plastic, but the invention is not limited to any particular material. Pin 21, however, is optionally and preferably made of metal.

Occasionally, as the result of the drying of paint within bore 14, it may be necessary to shake the device slightly in order to facilitate the gravity movement of rod 16 into extended position. However, once this movement into extended position occurs, pin 23 will not be moved :from its wedged position within bore 14b by the force exerted on the brush when it is used to paint a surface.

to erect position temporarily to permit more paint to flow to brush 19.

Secdnd embodiment (Fig. 5)

This embodiment is similar in principle to the first embodiment, but the locking pin 21 is replaced by modified retaining means.

In this second embodiment, a diametrically extending coil spring 30 is positioned within bore 22 of rod portion 16a. At each end of bore 22, a ball 31 is partially located within said bore and protrudes radially outward- 1y thereof. In other words, spring 30 urges the two balls 31 outwardly, and the end portion of bore 22 serves as a seat for the respective ball 31. The diameter of ball 31 is slightly smaller than the diameter of bore 22.

In this embodiment, bore 14 is provided within its tapered portion 14d with a circumferentially extending groove 32. Upon downward movement of rod 16, the respective balls 31 are caught frictionally within groove 32, thereby serving the same purpose as the frictional engagement of the tips 23 of pin 21 against the wall of bore portion 14d.

The tension of spring 30 is such that when the device is inverted and tapped against a surface, the balls 31 are dislodged from the small and shallow groove 32 permitting the brush 19 to drop by gravity to its retracted position.

Third embodiment (Figs. 6 and 7) In this embodiment, rather than provide for retraction of the brush, the brush is always maintained in an extended position, but the cap is modified so as to accommodate the brush in its permanently extended position when it is desired to close the device.

In this embodiment, the casing 10 and the operating head 11 inserted within casing 10 are substantially the same asin the first embodiment. Rod 36 corresponds to rod 16 of the first embodiment, except that the rod portion 36a corresponding to rod portion 16a of the first embodiment is of substantially increased length and extends almost the entire length of bore 14 between snap ring 17 and the shoulder 1 formed at the junction be tween bore portion 14d and bore portion 140. Accordingly, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, rod 36 moves only a very slight distance depending upon whether the device is erect or inverted.

This slight amount of travel of rod 36 is desirable to permit the device to be tapped against a surface to dislodge any paint which may have dried. Also, this slight amount of travel of rod 36 allows rod 36 to move upwardly when brush 19 is pressed against the surface to be painted, and this permits the flow of paint through the Eesuiting opening between rod portion 36a and shoul- Brush .19 and ferrule 20 are the same in both the first and third embodiments.

The modified cap 40 of the third embodiment is generally cylindrical in external shape. Said cap 40 has .a lower portion 41 and an upper portion 42 ,of somewhat reduced diameter. The free end portion of cap 40 is internally screw-threaded at 43 so as to enable the cap to .be screwed to the external threads 13 of body 11.

sesame The other extreme end portion of cap 40 is closed by a top end wall 44. The bore 42a of cap portion 42 and the enlarged bore 41a of cap portion 41 define a transverse annular shoulder 45 at the junction thereof. Said shoulder 45 is provided with an annular recess 46 of slightly reduced diameter, and an annular sealing gasket 47 is adapted to be force-fitted within recess 46. This gasket 47 may be made of any suitable flexible and resilient material.

When the brush is not be be used, cap 40 may be placed over brush 19 and around body 11, and themoperating screw threads 43 and 13 may be engaged in the usual manner. vThe cap is so dimensioned that gasket 46 is pressed sealingly against the rim 3 of body ll slightly before the lip end of cap 41 engages against shoulder 12. As shown in Fig. 6, cap 40 is screwed onto body 11 until said lip of cap 40 engages against shoulder 12, and in this position gasket 47 is sealingly compressed.

In the closed position of the cap, brush 19 extendsinto bore 42a. Brush 19 is spaced from the peripheral wall of bore 42a and brush 19 terminates slightly short of end wall 44. i

In this construction, as a resultofthe provision of gasket 47, brush 19 and the paint contents of the device are completely sealed from the outer air during storage of the device. This tends substantially to prevent drying of the paint either on the brush or within the interior casing and this makes it unnecessary to retract brush 19 when the device is in storage.

While I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention, and have indicated various changes, omissions and additions which may be made therein, it will be apparent that various other changes, omissions and additions may be made therein, without departing from the scope and spirit thereof.

I claim:

In a device for applying liquid, a tubular casing closed at one end, having an internal chamber and having a tip with a discharge passage leading from the chamber,

a rod within the chamber, a brush at the outer end of the rod, said rod being free to move in either direction by gravity between a retracted position of said brush in which said brush is Within the passage and an extended position of said brush in which said brush is positioned outwardly of the passage, said rod having a diametrically extending through here, and a pin extending slidably within said bore, said pin being of greater length than the diameter of said rod and the ends of said pin being adapted to protrude beyond the respective ends of said bore, said ends of said pin being rounded, said passage having a peripheral Wall which is slightly and substantially uniformly outwardly tapered from the point of location therein of said pin when said brush is retracted to outwardly of the point of location therein of said pin when said brush is extended, the length of said pin being less than the diameter of said passage at the point of location therein of said pin when said brush is in its retracted position, the length of said pin being equal to the diameter'of said passage when said brush is extended, the ends of said pin being thereby adapted to engage frictionally against the peripheral Wall of said passage upon holding said device in position for gravity movement of said brush toward extended position, said pin being adapted to frictionally and releasably hold said brush in extended position even when the casing is then inverted.

References Cited in the file ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 362,121 Spear May 3, 1887 2,205,601 Satz et al. June 25, 1940 2,657,670 7 Colburn Nov. 3, 1953 i 2,782,438 Wittnebert et al Feb. 26, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 436,038 Italy Dec. 1, 1948 1,087,410

France Aug. 25, 1954" 

